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Features
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A Taktikal assault on the hard dance scene - with Dickon Laws
Reported by Latex Zebra
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Submitted 08-02-06 00:38
Dickon Laws has been a known face on the scene for a great many years, working behind the scenes for a variety of promotions including Frantic and Most Wanted. He has also been seen behind the decks and is well respected as a DJ. Last year he left Most Wanted and set up his own company, Taktikal. I'll let him explain what his plans are and also to give his views on the hard dance scene today and its future.
So tell us a bit about Taktikal, who works there, what they do and what your plans are for the future.
Taktikal is the company I set up after I left Most Wanted in 2005. Originally it started as just Taktikal London, a specialist events/pr/marketing agency. It quickly morphed to also incorporate Taktikal:AM, the artist management arm. I believe in quality not quantity so in terms of personnel it’s very concentrated. Full time it is only myself and JC [James Clent]. I have overall responsibility of both Taktikal London and Taktikal:AM and manage the hard dance DJs on the roster and James looks after the alternate artists such as Max Cooper and Lee Osborne.
Keeping it small means we can keep more control. I am very specific about the way Taktikal operates and the more employees we have, the more chance that this approach will be watered down.
Plans for the future: the first year has been so hectic that we have had little chance until now to look at the long term. The overriding goal is to make Taktikal:AM the premier elite artist management agency and to drive Taktikal London as a PR and events powerhouse in the music & events industry.
What is the difference between what you do and what a club promoter does?
Taktikal is like a ‘bolt-on’. We are retained by people to advise and add to their existing promotional plans. We are in effect consultants who add that extra dimension to an event, for a long term goal or a quick fix.
Now tell us a bit about your first year in business.
Manic. Lots of highs and lows and it’s been an experience. There are times when it’s been pure fried gold, and times when I have pulled my hair out and cursed a few people [you know who you are!]. But things are really motoring now so I am looking forward to 2006.
What are you plans for your second year?
More of the same, the artists are doing great things. Greg Brookman is on absolute fire and I am so proud that he is finally getting the recognition he deserves. Fausto & Wid&Ben are rocking it virtually every weekend in the UK & Europe. We have just announced the inclusion of Lee Osborne onto the agency, who we expect big things from. Originally we weren’t going to take on any more artists as we didn’t want to water down the service to our existing artists, but there is just one more artist I’d like to bag and then we’ll be done. Hopefully we’ll be able to work something out with the silly Aussie this year so we can shout it from the roof tops!
Personally I’d like to see Taktikal London take some more big steps, something I’ll be focusing most of my efforts on in 2006.
You’ve worked for a couple of high profile companies like Frantic and Most Wanted, what is it like behind the scenes of these big promotions?
It’s an experience. In many ways the men at the top (Will Paterson, Frantic & Lee Bridle, Most Wanted) run their business like any other successful entrepreneurs. They have vision and determination and this rubs off on the way the rest of the company works — just because for all intensive purposes it’s a ‘rave’ – doesn’t mean its not run as professionally as any other business. It’s probably a lot more hard work than people think, and prob a lot less glamorous than you would imagine, but wicked fun.
Do you think working for those guys helped you get gigs as a DJ?
Of course, I’m not too naïve and proud to think otherwise! But having said that: if I was utter shite then word would have quickly spread and it would have been short-lived. I made a conscious decision when I worked for Frantic to put my DJing on hold just so that label would never be attached to me. It did however enable me to build good friendships/contacts which resulted in DJ bookings at a later date. I think the promoters who have booked me should be given credit not to have been shallow enough just to book me for who I was or worked for: if you did….shame on you!
Talking of which have you got any gigs in the future you’d like to tell us about?
Actually no. I made the decision early in 2006 that something in my life had to give and DJing was the unfortunate loser. Work is so busy that I am phasing it out completely: my last current booking is for Puzzle Project in March which I am really looking forward to: I love 414! It’s got a shady reputation but to me it’s the dogs bollocks. It was the first club I ever threw a party at and also the first club I ever DJ’d at so I have a soft spot for it.
(Of course the last ever booking I will play will be the headline slot at ‘Zoology: The Dickon Laws Show’ but I think your e-mail must still be lost in cyberspace Daniel!!!!! 
Are there too many DJs?
I don’t think you could say there are ‘too many DJs’ as everyone has the right to follow their passion.
I do think there are too many crap DJs, harsh as that sounds. I think we have entered a time when certain promoters sacrifice quality for quantity and the need to fill their line up with ‘paying guest list DJs’. I think it’s not just bad for the quality of the scene but also for the DJs: many are so desperate to play out that they will allow themselves to be manipulated into being booked for the volume of friends they can put on the guest list, rather than the quality of their music. Idealistic as it sounds, maybe these guys should be left in their bedrooms for a while longer to fine tune their skills before unleashing them on the world.
How should a new DJ look at promoting themselves to get noticed out there?
Don’t play out till you’re 100% confident and ready to do so.
Support the club you want to play for. The promoter isn’t going to book a new DJ unless they are exceptional or they have some dialogue with you.
Alternatively you could become a promoter then you can play at a monthly event, bill yourself really well in the line up and try and convince everyone else you’re a really big name and get bookings at other clubs. Tragic.
What does it take to get you off the couch and off to a party you’re not involved with?
Quality not quantity Dan.
What bothers you most about the scene?
Hmmm. Nothing really gets me severely pissed off but there are a few things which I look at with intolerant eyes.
Parties that say they make a big noise about ‘trying to do something different’, when in fact they are regurgitating the same story as everyone else, bother me. Only because I have learnt to take a non-traditional route to everything I do and try to bring fresh and thought provoking ideas to the forefront. Events that say ‘we’re the most forward thinking hard dance night around’ when they have the same line up as the big clubs did 4 years ago wind me up a bit.
And while we’re on the topic: I also take exception to people knocking promoters with non-constructive criticism. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but when a promoter puts their life and soul into an event and have sleepless night after sleepless night trying to bring their best they can to the table: and then someone makes a comment on a website like: ‘Went to XYZ last night. Hated it. Was Shit! la la la’ I feel for the promoters. People should always try and be constructive.
The internet now plays a large part on the publicity of dance music, especially the Forum pages. What are the pros and cons of the clubbers being able to air their views so easily and do you think we might be better off without it sometimes?
It’s brilliant and vitally important that clubbers have their say: how else will the promoters know if they need to make improvements or book the in-form talent for their next event. But on the flip side; clubbers are not privy to a lot of information that goes on behind the scenes; so they can make comments that have negative repercussions without knowing all the facts.
With DJs swapping genres left right and centre, is hard house on its last legs?
If I am brutally honest, I think it has retreated to its fortress and is awaiting its final stand! It’s not dead and buried by any means: while behemoths of the hard dance scene like Frantic throw their full weight behind the genre there will still be life in the old dog yet.
Does a music genre ever die off completely anyway? I can’t think of one that has. Hard house will probably end up being made and played by small, cult-like groups who meet in secrecy in the dead of night to keep the flame burning, remeniscing about ‘9-Bar’ and plotting how they can seek revenge on their old advisary: hard trance! Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
What’s the next big thing in your opinion?
Dance music runs in cycles. I think the next big thing will be something that has already been and gone and will re-emerge. I think tech trance will make a push for pole-position, I also think breaks will start to enlarge its audience. Gabba techno is surely worth another chance?
What would be your ideal line up, excluding any DJs on your books?
Latex Zebra: 18 hours across 4 arenas! (I’ll have to be cloned)
No seriously. I have to think long and hard….
Scot Project
Technikal
Tommy Pulse
K.A.R.L. b2b Latex Zebra
Trevor McLachlan
What other non-dance music do you like?
Erm I only really listen to hip hop.
Top 3 tunes of all time?
Crazy Frog.
2 Unlimited — ‘There’s No Limit’
Shanks & Bigfoot — ‘Sweet Like Chocolate’
Top 3 Promotions of all time?
1. ESCAPE
2. FROM
3. SAMSARA!
Anything you wish I’d asked but haven’t? Feel free to ask it and answer it yourself…
Is bouncy hard house just plain wrong? Highly likely.
Does anyone actually know what the expression ‘Boooowwwaaai’ actually means? I haven’t got a Scooby.
Am I looking forward to my boys Greg Brookman, Wid&Ben and Fausto playing at HardHouse Academy? Do bears shit in woods?!
Thanks for your time and good luck for the future.
Thanks to Daf, EmmaHardware and HarderFaster for the photos. Not to be reproduced without permission.
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Other Features By Latex Zebra:
From Little Acorns to Mighty Oaks - How Chilled in a Field has grown
Bar 414 unveils a new dimension with Base Mosquito
Brandon Block gets Funky 414 London!
Dissecting Scot Project
The HarderFather speaks! Meet him yourself at the HF vs The Residents Xmas Party
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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Comments:
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From: JC-TAKTIKAL on 8th Feb 2006 01:07.30
Legend D! Boooooooowai lol sheesh if everyone knew how much works goes in behind the scenes... D your a real inspiration - im looking forward to 2006! Bring it on...
From: danj on 8th Feb 2006 03:47.23
Booooooowai, fun read 
From: maliksta on 8th Feb 2006 05:19.53
Mr Laws.
Wicked Article and glad to see you are doing your thing
good luck this year mate!
m
From: Andy T on 8th Feb 2006 09:06.54
Wicked read Dickon you're a true gent and legend in every respect ! Best of luck for Taktikal in 2006 and beyond 
From: Newzkitten on 8th Feb 2006 09:07.00
Awwww! That pic brings back so many memories! You are a cosummate professional Mr Laws and I learnt so much from you during our time at Most Wanted! Much love from the land of the long white cloud.. Mwah!!! xxx
From: Craig Paxton on 8th Feb 2006 10:36.18
Upfront! No Voices! No Breaks! No mistakes! Booooowwwwaaaiii!
From: Meena on 8th Feb 2006 10:39.44
Great interview Dickon - I'm sure big tings a'gwan for Taktikal this year 
From: Lisa B on 8th Feb 2006 10:49.16
An absloute legend!! Was a pleasure to work beside you and i learnt so much too! Good Luck for the future Mate xxxx
From: anushka007 on 8th Feb 2006 11:37.58
Excellent interview 
And now lets clone Latex Zebra!
From: Dickon Laws on 8th Feb 2006 13:29.54
One trys ones best. Cheers for all the big ups people. Cheque's are in the post. Yours may take a while Lynch as you selfishly moved to the other side of the world
From: El Greko on 8th Feb 2006 15:02.21
Top stuff as always, insightful and straight to the point. Good luck with it all mate
From: Becka on 8th Feb 2006 15:12.56
Great Interview. Really interesting to read about behind the scenes from a expert. Good luck in 2006!
From: Twisted Hannah on 8th Feb 2006 15:29.07
Fantastic interview and some really good points Mr Laws!. Well said!
From: Holly-Anna on 8th Feb 2006 17:09.49
Total quality Dickon! As always, and an excellent choice of DJ's xx
From: HHL on 8th Feb 2006 17:25.10
Nice to hear some straight talk...and more great parties/bookings to all involved with Taktikal!!!
From: Matt Smallwood on 8th Feb 2006 19:02.10
Top work old bean, you are indeed a ...Leg-End! All the best for a Taktikal 2006 :o)
From: ~deleted1390 on 8th Feb 2006 19:19.30
Go Mr Laws. Great interview material.
From: Mizz_behavin on 8th Feb 2006 19:52.24
 Hi D, Fab interview, glad everythings going great - I am sure the Ozzie DJ will see sense soon . Good to see you NYD @ Frantic!! Amanda x
From: Lee Osborne on 8th Feb 2006 20:30.34
D your the man! Looking forward to working with you mate! Bring on 2006!!! BOOWAI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Janie Mac on 9th Feb 2006 08:55.43
You is famous Dickon! Woohoo! Heh heh
From: K8-e on 9th Feb 2006 12:29.22
Good interview
From: ~deleted5662 on 9th Feb 2006 12:44.46
Nice one Dickon. Always a pleasure working with you Such a wicked guy too!!
From: Ben (Wid and Ben) on 9th Feb 2006 13:23.30
Lovely bloke!
From: Maria on 9th Feb 2006 16:04.24
What a quality interview! I learnt a lots with Dickon as well when he used to work with Frantic. Good memories!!! Mwwhhaaa
From: K.A.R.L. on 9th Feb 2006 17:30.43
Top interview. Someone who speaks alot of sense and is a top bloke. Good luck with it all mate.
From: Spherical on 9th Feb 2006 23:26.52
Fantastic interview. All the best with Taktikal in the future.
From: ClubCasualty on 10th Feb 2006 08:48.02
Good interview, top bloke.
From: clubchick on 10th Feb 2006 11:00.26
You deserve it all Dickon! great interview Latex Z !
From: Lunar chic on 10th Feb 2006 11:16.19
Great interview Dickon, a true gent you are! Know big things are coming for Taktikal 2006!
From: ajay on 10th Feb 2006 11:46.52
Nice one chap!! Hope to catch up again very soon sir!
From: Fausto Talone on 11th Feb 2006 09:43.51
Top Geezer and Top Intervieuw Tumbs up
From: Paul Reeves on 11th Feb 2006 10:31.43
i only lurk on here now but after reading this article i was mightily impressed by your attitude and bearing. i wish you the best of luck in your future ventures, judging by what iv just read you will be very succssesful, well deserved.
From: emmahardware on 11th Feb 2006 18:08.33
go D.long time no see. goodluck with taktikal! x
From: Richard Launch on 13th Feb 2006 11:04.10
Top work Dickon.
From: Miss BPM on 13th Feb 2006 12:28.22
Hi babe! Fab interview - you are so hardworking and deserve the best! Hope to see you soon!  
From: Technikal on 13th Feb 2006 23:53.47
Nice read mate, and thoroughly honoured for the mention!! Thanks dude
From: snowqueen on 17th Feb 2006 07:42.54
good luck for the future...you really deserve it
From: Not Marcus on 18th Feb 2006 10:32.34
Top interview nice one guys
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